Pambuka, Maziwisa granted bail
Highfield MP, Psychology Maziwisa and former ZBC news anchor, Oscar Pambuka appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Court yesterday, facing charges of swindling the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) of $12 650 in an underhand public relations deal.
Maziwisa (34) and Pambuka (33) were not asked to plead when they appeared before magistrate, Rumbidzai Mugwagwa, who remanded the pair to January 30 on $300 bail.
As part of their bail conditions, Maziwisa was ordered to report once every Friday at Mabelreign Police Station, while Pambuka is to report at Waterfalls Police Station. The pair were also ordered to surrender their passports with the clerk of court, not to interfere with State witnesses, to reside at the given addresses and not to visit Zesa offices.
Maziwisa is the director of Fruitful Communications while Pambuka is employed as a media executive.
According to the State, sometime in January last year, Maziwisa and Pambuka allegedly brought a letter to ZPC from then Energy minister Samuel Undenge directing it to work with Fruitful Communications at intervals of six months per engagement.
It is alleged during the same month, the pair entered into a verbal agreement with ZPC to do publicity work. ZPC was represented by managing director, Noah Gwariro and public relations executive, Fadzai Chisveto.
It is the State’s case that on February 12 last year, Maziwisa and Pambuka, through Fruitful Communications, hosted aZimAsset conference at Meikles Hotel, where Undenge was the guest of honour and ZBC covered the event.
The State alleges on March 8 last year, the pair unlawfully and with intent to defraud, brought an invoice to ZPC and presented it to Chisveto.
The duo, through their company, falsely claimed to have done campaigns from January 15 to February 15 last year, a Press conference on power projects in Kariba, Hwange and Batoka and to have paid ZBC for the campaigns.
It is alleged Maziwisa and Pambuka misrepresented to Chisveto that Fruitful Communications had caused the work listed and charged ZPC $12 650. The State also alleges that on May 5, the two, using the same method, brought another invoice to ZPC amounting to $36 000.
But ZPC discovered that no work had been carried out and declined to pay the amount.
Linda Gadzikwa appeared for the State.
BY DESMOND CHINGARANDE
